Egypt’s non-oil trade deficit widens 11% in H1 2026

Egypt’s non-oil trade deficit excluding gold widened 11 per cent year-on-year to about $20.8 billion in the first half of 2026 as imports grew faster than exports, the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade said on Tuesday.

Non-oil merchandise exports rose 3 per cent to about $25.5 billion during the period, while exports excluding gold increased 12 per cent to around $23.3 billion, according to the ministry’s newly released periodic bulletin on investment and foreign trade indicators.

Non-oil merchandise imports increased 21 per cent to about $48.1 billion, while imports excluding gold rose 11.5 per cent to around $44 billion.

Chemicals and fertilisers, building materials, food industries, agricultural products, and engineering and electronics were the leading export sectors during the first half, the ministry said.

The United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Türkiye, and the United States were the main destinations for Egyptian exports.

The ministry said it was working to expand export opportunities and improve Egyptian companies’ access to foreign markets.

Its trade representation offices identified 197 export opportunities with an estimated value of about $310 million during the first half, as well as 40 investment opportunities worth an estimated $3 billion across industry, agriculture, logistics, energy, and mining.

Egypt also organised 19 domestic exhibitions and participated in 23 international exhibitions as part of efforts to promote trade and investment.

The ministry issued around 301,000 certificates of origin during the period and announced 10 decisions and measures related to trade remedies.

Temporary measures imposed by the European Union on some Egyptian glass-fibre products were reduced to 11 per cent from 26 per cent, the ministry said.